Spinning-top.



PA'JINNNTND JUNI; 19, 1906. I M Lf.1?owERs.

SPINNING TOP. f PNLIoNT'loN funn', DEU.- v. 190s.

' I 55 which may 'UNITED VSTATES PATENT .OFFICE f s MICHAEL L. Powers, orv sraiNGFIELD; MAssAeHUsnrrs.

No. 823,809. y

To all whom it may concern:

a citizen of the` United States of America, and a resident 'of Springfield, in. the county of 5 Hampden and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Imfprove.

ments in Spinning-Tops, of which the ollowing isa full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to improvements in I Io spinning-tops of the kind including a top properand a spinning-'device therefor or whirling-jack.

An .object of the invention is to so improvethe construction of the parts that the spinning IV devicewhen wound up and yin engagement with the top will support the top preparatory to itsbein spun and yet permit such properlytimed an free disengagement' of the top as to I in no wise impair its spinning potentiality. Another object is to very much simplify and cheapen the device, providingy constructions `which are very practicable ofconstrucf tion and easy of assemblage and renderin it not necessary or even desirable to provide any casing or inclo'sure for the .mechnism v of the spinning-jack.

The invention consists in the combination andarrangement of parts and the construc-y tions of certain of theparts, all substantially in the claims. v

In the drawings, Figure l is a central vertical sectional view through the spinning-top and whirling device, the parts being in en 1n separated relations. Fig. 3 is a-horizontal .crossesection taken on the line 3 3, Fig. 1. .Figsj/l, 5, and 6 represent provisions for maky ing the device amusical top.

Similar characters of 4reference indicate corresponding parts in all of. the views.4

In the drawings, A represents thespinningtop properfand B re resents the spin-l nin device or whirling-jardin l T ie top has at its upper side a thin metallic plate 10, having the tongues a struck up therefrom',- comprising upstanding portions 1.1 and horizontally-extending portions 12, which form spaces between such horizontal .portion of the u per top surface, which are open at their en s which are reverse from the spinning rotation of the top. e whirling device comprises a holder 15,

having intermediate ,spring-accommodating Specification of Letters Patent.' Application filed December 7,1995. Serial No. 290.797;

. per edge of the rame-1ike holdervB, and t e as hereinafter fully'describf i, and set forthgagement as in readiness to spin the top. Fig. 2 1s al perspective viewshowing the parts as `Spring, as shown in Fig. 1, so that by downporarily the shape. of a volute' spring but in be a metallic casting, the saine SPINNING-Tor?.

. l 'space 1d and a-veriticalbore l'vl'therethxou h` Be it known that I, MICHAEL L. "POWERS,

`lower end portion of the spindle,qand these'V projections 2'0 4are further continued in `thin extensions 2222, whichare adapted to have engagement under the horizontalmembers 1,2, of the aforementioned tongues at the :upper side ofthe spinning-top. v

As specically constructed `the spindle b 1s made in two sections, the main spindle-secj tion 25 being tubular and having its up' 'er extremity proJectingr somewhat above t e u f u secondary spindle-section 26 is A.tightlyfitted 'j in the upper portion of the tubularsection 25,"being inserted thereinl friction-tight or' with a driving fit, and jb'oth df these'spindle-- sectionsl are longitudinally slotted, as repre 8o sentedl at .27, Figs. 1v and 3, whereby the inner end of a clock orsimilar spring d is en gaged -and the outer extremity 2.9 of the clockspring is engaged Awith a'side'portion ofthe holder, as represented in Fig. 3, so lthatfwlth the extensions 22 22 in engagementv Withthe top-ton es a a andthe holder is rotated. relative y to the top,for vice versa, the spring will be more or less wound up and retain'e in such condition by the engagement of the dogs 20 20 with the ratchets 19 1,9.v

The spring-accommodating space withinY f the holder isl of a" vertical dimension' somef 'll y what greater than' the height of? the clock# j wardly forcing the spindle to carry the dogs 20 20 out of engagement with the ratchets19- 19 to permit the recoil of the kspring for'spinj ning the top a lower portion of the springv may i be downwardly d'istensible'; assuming temloo this top therearionof the spring islessentially i a whirling'and not an axial one, and for the purposes ofnormally keeping the spindle its i luppermost position, so that the dogs' mayre- .,105 main in engagement with the ratchets 1 9-,un` til willfully displaced, aspirals ring 32 is provided to encircle the upwar projection of l the spindle and in'cornpressio'n between the upper edglof the holderand-the header but.- iro., .ton 33, W der for the upper end of the spring.l l

ch `constitutes the bearinrgghpiilf 11F?.

ton, as shown in Fig. 2, is made rotatable relatively to the spindle, the secondary spindle-section 26 bein shouldered near its up per extremity, an such u p er extremity thereabove is attenuated an upset in the manner of riveting, but without binding on the button. y

The frame has opposite sidewiselextending nger-rests 35, which are of great convemence in the use of the toy, especially when letting` ofll the top to be spun, it being apparent that when the parts are wound u p and in engaged relation, as represented in Fig. 1, by grasping the holder so that two iin gers of the hand are beneath the finger-rests 35 and the thumb is applied for pressure at the top of the button downward pressure on the latter will so endwise move the spindle as to disengage the dogs 20 from the holder-ratchets 19, imparting a decided impetus to the spin dle land extensions 22 22, which have engageH ment with the portions 1l 11 et the 'toptongues and drive the top, it being understood that the scope of' rotary motion oi the spindle is comparatively slight and of short duration, so that the rotative force acquired in the top causes in spinning the tongues aa to depart from engagement with the members 22 of the whirling device.

The top, as shown in Figsfi and 5, is made with a central cavity 40, having sidewiseopening ducts 42, leading therefrom, and in said cavity is located an air soundproducinfY device, which in Fig. l. at e4 is represente( as a reed, Fig. 4 showin the reerhplate 115 as made with a plurality' o slits or openings and a corresponding number of reed tongues 46, which may be ot tones so that the spinning I vof-.the top will by the suction from the upper opening down into the cavity and sidewise out sound a chord.

In Figs. 5. and 6 a whistle 47 is represented as the sound-producing device. I

lclaime- 1. Inma spinning-top, the combination with a topwhaving one or more upper side abutments, of a whirling device Vcomprising a holderhaying an intermediate sirlewise-open aperture and. lower end ratchets, a spindle 5o extending'vertically through the holder, ro*

tataole therein, and also having a limited degree of endwise movement, and provided at its lower end with one' or more transverse vmembers adapted to engage the top abutmentsand also with said ratchets, and. a

`spring' located within saidholder-aperture,

having its outer end in engagement with the holder and its inner end with the spindle.

2. In a spinning-top, the combination with 6o aftop having one or rnorelupper side abut` ments, each comprising an upstanding mem ber and a horizontally-extending member, el a' whirling device comprising a holder having an intermediate sidewise-o en aperture and lower end` ratchets, va spin e extending ver tically through the holder, rotatable therein, and also having a limited. degree'of endwise movement, and provided at its lower end with one or more transverse members adapted to engage the top abutments and also with said ratchets, and a spring located with in said holder-aperture, having its outer end in engagement with the holder and. its inner end with the spindle.

ln a spinningtop, the combination with a top having one or more upper side abutments, of a whirling device comprisingr a holder having an intermediate sidewise-open zfnerture, lower end ratchets and opposite edgewise-extended iinger-rests,' u spindle extending vertienlly through the holder, rotatable therein, and also having a limited degree of endwise movement, and provided at its lower end with one or more transverse members adapted to engage the top-abutments and also with. said atelier, andi a spring located within said hohler-aperture, having its outer end in. engagement with the holder and its inner end with the spindle. i

it. ln a spinning-top, the combination with a top having one or more upper side abutments, oi a whirling device comprising a holder having an intermediate sidewise-opmi aperture, lower end ratchets, and opposite edgewise-extended 'lingen-rests, a spindle extending vertically through the holder, rotatable therein, and also having a limited degree of endwise movement, provided at its upper end with a head relatively to which it is independently rotatable, and provided at its lower end. with one or more transverse members adapted to engage the top abutments and also with said ratchet,` and a spriiig located within said liol'der-al'ierture, having its outer end in engagement with the holder and its inner end with the spindle.

5. ln a spinning-top, the combination with a top having one or more upper side abutments, of a whirling device comprising a holder having an interimidiate sidewise-open. aperture, lower end ratchets, and a spindle extending verticali)l thmugh the holder, rotatable therein, and also having a limitedV de grec of endwise movement, and provided at its lower end with one or more transverse members adapted to engage the top abutinents and also with said ratchet, :i spring located within saidholder-aperture, having its outer end in engagement wi th the holder and its inner end with the spindle, and a spiral spring surrounding the spindle and in compression between the top of the holder and a shouldered upper part of the spindle.

6. ln a spinning-top, the combination with a top having one or more upper side abutments, oi' a whirling device comprising a holder having an intermediate spring-accommodating space and lower end ratchets, a tu bular upwardly-open spindle extending vertically through the holder, rotatable therein,

lOO

and also a limited degree of endwise spindle-section tightly fitting in ythe upperportion of the tubular-formed spindle, proper, I

and having at its upper end a buttonk relatively to which it is -freely rotatable, and a s iral spring encircling the upper portion of I t e spindle and. in compression between the top of the holder and said button.

7. In a spinning-top, the combination with a -top having one or more upper side abutments, of a whirlingv device comprising a' holder having an intermediate spring-accom modating space .and lower end ratchets, a tubular upwardly-open s indle extending vertioally through the hol er, rotatable therein, and also having a limited degree of endwise movement, and provided "at its lower. end with one or more transverse members ada tred to engage the topy abutments and a scr.;`

with rate ets, a sup lementalv spindle-sec- .tion tightly fitting in t e upper portion of the tubular-formed spindle, proper, and having4 at its upper end a button relatively to which sf it is freelyrotatable, said two s indie-seee tions being longitudinally slotte a\s iral l sprin encircling the upper. -,portion"o` ithe spind e and in compresslon'between the top y of the holder and said button, and a 4clock on like spring located in said holder-aperturel having its outer end in engagement with the holder and its inner end" enga ing through the matched slots in saidy spind e-sections.

Signed by me at Spring'eld, Massachusetts, in presence off/two subscribing Wit'- nesses. A

MICHAEL. v L. POWERS. Witnesses: 'y y WM. S. BELLOWS,

G. R. DRrsGoLL. 

